Fluid-current conveyer



Dec. 19 '1922. 1,439,249 l G. T. LEWIS. FLulD CURRENT CONVEYER. Flu-:D MAR. 21. 1922.

coal, in suspension in ani Patented Dec. i9, 1922.

rr-ae'sraras GEORGE T. LEWIS, OF CHERBYVLE, KANSAS.

FLUIDeCURRENT CNVEYER.

Application filled March 2l,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. Lewis, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Cherryvale, in'the county ofMontgomery and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful mprovements in Fluid- Current Conveyers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to conveyers, and hasparticular reference to a 'fluid conveyer, designed for conveying finely' powdered air blast or current.

An important object of the invention Yis to provide apparatus of the above menn tionedcharacter lwhich is so constructed that clogging of the same. by the accumulation of the powdered coal, is prevented;

that the valves may be cleaned individually without shutting off the air blastor current in the main pipe, thereby not interfering with -other burners connected on the main 'I pipe, that the valves are so constructed that they are cleaned, to a considerable eX- tent, by opening and closing the same; that the valves are vcleaned automatically, t-o acertain extent, by being disposed at an angle to the direction of travel of the powdered coal, and projecting into such path of travel; that the valves may be opened and closed from a low elevation; and that the valves may be conveniently manipulated for regulatino the volume of powdered coal conveyedD to the burners.

Other-objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during'thecourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate Fig. l is-a plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 `is a central 'horizontal section through the same,

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the main pipe, showing the valve structure in elevation, yand Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the crank and associated elements. p

In the drawings,A wherein for "the,pur

1922. Serial No. 545,537.

pose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the' numeral 5 designates a main pipe, which erably has a substantial diameter, such as 55 twelve inches or more, This main pipe may be horiZonta-ll arranged, and powdered coal,'suspe nde in air, is forcedlongitudinallythrough the uiain pipe 5, by a ro,- tary blower, of suitable construction. .The arrows' in Fig. 2 indicate the direction of travel of the powdered coal.

The numeral 6 designates a valve struc-. ture as a whole, which constitutes means for withdrawing the powdered coal, suspended in the air blast, from the main pipe. There are a number of these valve structures mounted on the main pipe, at spaced intervals, depending from the number vof burners, furnaces or the like, which are fed '70 from the main pipe. A detail description of one valve structure will of course suilce.

The valve structure embodies a casing 7 which is preferably cylindrical, and this casing is rigidly mounted upon a base or saddle S, which is curved in crossesection. The saddle 8 has its ends apertured for receiving the ends of a lJ-shaped strap 8', surrounding the main pipe 5. The ends of this strap are cylindrical and screw threaded to receive nuts 95. rlhe saddle is thus clamped to the main pipe.

The tubulaicylindrical casing 7 is arranged at an obtuse angle to the exterior of the main casing 5 and has an inner pro- 85 jection 8, extending into the main pipe,

V,at an angle to the direction of travel of the powdered coal, as shown. The yforward. end of the projection 8 is closerh by a head 9 or the like, and this projr tion is 90 provided upon its forward side with an opening 10, through which the powdered coal may pass.

Rotatably mounted wit-hin the tubular casing 7 is a tubular valve 1l, the forward 95 end ofwvnich is closed by a head l2, con'- tacting with the head 9". The tubular v'alve is provided upon its 'forward side with an opening- 13, adapted to be moved into and out of registration with the openlo@ ing l0. The rear end lof the tubular valve 'l1 is open, as shown.

,siii housing liis preferably torined'inv 'oh the casing' 7 and is spaced thereiliis housing extends; for less than half of the, circinn'lference of the casing 7,

.us shown. .The function et' the housing;

` and extends upwardly Aroin the housing 14,

"venient`1'each of the operator,

und this crunk carries n grooved segment 1.8, engaged by n ropefll or other flexible element. It is thus seen. that the ends ol. the rope 19 will extend downwardly in conwho me); tlius.e;urn the criin'k 17 in either direction,

lor partly or wholly closing,` the opening 10. The crank 1'( has e longitudinal slot 1T, providing spaced slightly resilient zirnis i8', which are integre-l with the ends oi the bend 16. rlhe arms 18 are connected by bolts-15)', as shown. 1t is obvious that the ringilt may be contracted and clamped to the tlihuler'vulve 11 by manipulation ot the bolts 19.

rPhe rear end ot' the tubular casing 7 is preferably screw threaded, :is shown at 20,

Vfor engagementwith a coupling 21, preferably having n laterally extending branch 22, connected with :L pipe 23, which leeds to the lire, burner, furnace or the like. When this branch. E32 is employed, li provide u plufr 2d, having' screw threaded engagement within 'the rear end of the coupling E21. By removing the plug 2%, e. straight and uninterrupted pessuge is afforded to the interior et the tubular Valve, so that e suitable instrun'ient may he inserted therein. to clean the interior of the tubulin' valve. Prior to cleaning, the tubular valve muy he turned to the closed position.

The coupling 21 may he dispensed with, and the pipeficonnccted directly with the rear end or' the casing il. lr" this is done, th @L mustbe disconnected from the eosin, y prior to the insertion or' e tool into Y, uhu' vulve l1, r'or cleaning.

lln the operation of the ammi-utils, the air leden with the powdered coul, is blown in the direction of the arrows, Fig. if), through the mein pipe 5. The 'tubular valve 1 1, bcing wholly or partly opened. :i certain amount olpowdered coal will pass throughthe openings l0 und l'l'end be forced through the tubular velve, into und through the pipe 23, to the lire, burner or furrnice.

it is to he understood that the forzn'of iny invention herewith shown sind described is to be taken es ai preferred exemple of the sinne, and that rurious changes in `the shape, size und er enge-nient of parte may he'resorted to without l rtin from the spirit o my vention, ne f one of the subjoineo claims Having thus described my invention, claimi 1. The combination with s, mein pipe through which powdered coal is blown, of a valve casing mounted upon the pipe and he 7ing its forward end projecting into the' mein pipe, the forward side of the casing within the main pipe beingl provided `with an opening, a housing t'orlned upon the outer portion of the casing ente; riorly of the main pipe, said casing being provided within the ,housingl with an ennuler opening dividing; the same into sections, e. tubular valve rotatable within the casing and provided in its forward end .with en4 opening cooperating with the opening in said easing, tierenlr having e hand arranged with.- in the annular opening und receiving the tubular valve and clamped thereto; means to turn the crank, and an outlet pipe connected with the casing.

2. rihe combination with e main pipe through which powdered'coal or' the like is blown, of s valve casing mounted u on the main pipe und having an inclined orward portion projecting into such main pipe, such forward portion being provided upon its forward side with an opening whereby the pow dered coal in the main pipe may be passed into the valve casing, a. tubular valve rotatable within the valve casing and having en openin;` upon its side near its intake end to cooperate with the first named opening, sii-id tuhuhugvulve having its outlet end open, seid valve casing projecting outwardly beyond the rear end of the tubular valve, an element mounted upon the tubular velvebetween the ends of the valve casing and projecting' late 'elly t'rom the valve and adapted tol turn it, and u device connected with the outer end or' the tubular valve casing to norninllyclose the saine und having a removableelenient tor affording ready access to the outer end oiY said tubular valve. Casin 3. in u fluid conveyor, a main pipe having an opening formed in its side wall, n. tubular vulve casing extending;A throufdi the opening into the main pipe and provided upon one side with :in opening, a housing connected with the inner sind outer sections of the tubuhu' vulve casing und spaced therefrom, the tuhulzir vulve formed therein which is arranged between the omis-o1c the housing, :i tubular vulve Within the vnlvecasing, a ring mounted upon the tubulin' vulve within the annuler opening, en element connected with the ring to turn it,

`and :in outlet conduit connected with the tubular valve casing.

in ay fluid conveyer, u main pipe having :in opening formed therein, e tubular valve casing' extending; through the'openingf into the pipe und provided Within seid pipe with ingr. seid tuhiiilar valve casing;` being ined exteriorly of the innin4 pipe with an casing having au annuler opening I annular opening, an element rigidly con- Within the valve casing and extending nectmg the inner and outer, portlous of the through the ring, means to secure the valve housing formed by said annular opening, a casing t0 the main pipe. and an outlet pipe 10 l crank provided with Ia longitudinal slot connected With the valve casing.

5 forming spaced arms, a ring having its ends ln testimony whereof I ax my signature.

secured to said spaced arms, means to draw the arms together, a tubular valve rotatable 'GERGE T. LEWRQ 

